Huge Win For the Flames!

The Flames defeated the Nashville Predators tonight 5-1!

The Flames got out-shot 40-33 but they were just too much to handle. Kiprusoff easily had his best game after signing the huge contract extension last night. This is Kipper's 12 game this season and it was his 12th game last year when he really got going. The Flames top players continue to be their best. Iggy had 2 goals and an assist to put his point total to 19 tied for second in the league. Despite the the trade rumors involving Alex Tanguay and how he doesn't like playing for Keenan definitely seems fishy. I admit I got caught up in them but I never thought for a second that Tanguay was going anywhere. Tanguay had 3 assists tonight to bring his total to 15. Nothing more can be said about Daymond Langkow's play either, he has been unbelievable, he got another 2 assists to put his total to 18 points which is tied for 3rd in the league. Him and Phaneuf are definitely the top priorities to sign before next summer now that Kipper is locked up. The Flames now have Iggy,Langkow and Tanguay all in the top 15 in scoring and Huselius rounds out in the top 30 in the league. Eric Nystrom also gets a mention for playing a very good hockey game and for potting his 1st career NHL goal. Nystrom finally looks poised to hopefully stay consistent and stick with the Flames. Him, Lombardi and Moss give the Flames a very good and young 3rd line.

The Flames are playing great hockey right now and finish off October with a 6-3-3 record which is their best start since 2001.

Kipper Locked Up!

Today, GM Darryl Sutter and the Flames organization announced the re-signing of G Miikka Kiprusoff to a 6 year contract extension worth 35 million dollars. Kiprusoff's contract would had been up at the end of the season so this comes to a relief to every Flames fan.

Kipper has been nothing but remarkable since coming over from San Jose back in 2004. He is easily one of the top 3 goaltenders in the league along with Martin Brodeur and Roberto Luongo. He won the Vezina trophy in 2005 and makes the Flames a threat year after year. Kipper said in a release " I would like to thank the Calgary Flames owners for making this long term commitment to me and my family so we can remain in this city and be part of this organization... I look forward to the responsibility and challenge that comes with this contract. Calgary is a loyal hockey community that expects and deserves the very best from its home team.”

I can't describe how happy I am for this contract getting done. I knew that it was going to happen sooner than later but am so happy it was sooner not later. Kipper is loved by every Flames fan and should continue to treat us to spectacular goaltending and hopefully back stop us to a Stanley Cup. Kipper finishes off our big three UFA's going into this summer along with Iggy and Regehr.

Flames vs. Avalanche Oct. 26 '07

The Flames lost to the Avalanche for the second time in a row this year and for the second time in extra time. Both times the Flames have blown a 3rd period lead, with the game tonight being not as bad as a 4-0 lead back on October 16th in Colorado.

Marek Svatos tied it up for the Avalanche with less than 5 minutes to go in the game. The old Oiler's nemesis, Ryan Smyth potted the winner for the Aves only 23 seconds into OT. Alex Tanguay scored again to really get the monkey off his back for his third of the year and Matthew Lombardi also potted one for the Flames for his 4th of the year.

Once again I was unable to watch the game due to hockey so I haven't gotten much feed back on how the Flames played or anything. I guess I will have to listen to the radio or talk to my friends for more input about the game and how the Flames played. The Flames have now collected 7 of 10 possible points on this home stand and will have a few days off until they play the Nashville Predators on the 30th.

Huge Comeback for the Flames!

The Flames were able to hand the Minnesota Wild their first regulation loss last night with a 5-3 come from behind victory. I was watching the Canucks, Red Wings game since the Flames game was only on radio and during the 2nd intermission they had out of town scores. Up came the Flames game along with a Wild 3-0 lead after only the 1st period. This didn't make me very happy at all, but I had to do homework anyways so I went in my room and turned the game on. Pretty much as soon as I turned the game on Stephane Yelle took a hooking penalty, not good!

The Flames killed the penalty and immediately after they got a 5-3 PP. Nothing came of that either. Still wasn't looking good for them and time wasn't on their side. Then Keenan put Langkow back on the top line with Iggy and Tanguay and they produced right away. Iggy potted a goal and on the play Tanguay very, very slightly bumped Wild goaltender Nicklas Backstrom and that seemed to throw Backstrom off his game. After that goal the Flames didn't look back at all. Tanguay finally got his 1st goal of the season and later on got his 2nd as the Flames tied the game by the end of the 2nd and added two more in the third to finish off the comeback for a 5-3 win.

Even though it was a horrendous start for the Flames, they needed a game like that to show what character they had and if there was any heart in the dressing room. Not enough can be said about captains Iggy's and Langkow start this year. they are respectively 3rd and 4th in scoring and Langkow is 2nd in the league with 8 goals. Kipper is really the only big star who hasent got really going yet, I'm not worried and I doubt every many Flames fans are either. He has let in some weak goals but his high GAA is also to blame on the defense, except Phaneuf. Phaneuf has been amazing so far this season and if he keeps it up he will be a candidate for the Norris trophy. The defense is improving every game so I'm not too worried about that either. With a 5-3-2 record the Flames are off to a very good start compared to the last couple of years.

Kovalev coming to Calgary?

Trade rumors have been flying on the radio and on the web about Alexei Kovalev coming to the Flames from the Canadiens for Alex Tanguay. Rumors say that Kovalev isn't happy in Montreal like most everyone has heard and that Tanguay isn't happy playing under Keenan. Kovalev is another player who use to play for Keenan way back with the Rangers. This move would not make me happy, I really hope that it isn't true.

Anyways I have fallen behind on this blog and didn't even finish my season preview, very embarrassed but what can you do. Missed out on the Pacific and Northwest Division, which is of course the Flames which makes it even worse. My Predicted Finish for the Pacific is from 1st to worst, San Jose, Anaheim, Los Angeles, Dallas, Phoenix and for the Northwest, Calgary, Minnesota, Vancouver, Colorado and of course Edmonton.

The Flames are 2-2-2 so far and I really haven't been able to watch any of the games due to hockey, school and work. Very disappointing but I have caught the highlights and post game comments from the radio. Phaneuf looks like he could contend for the Norris in the next couple of years with his defensive play improving drastically. While Iggy, Langkow and Huselius have all gotten off to good starts. Kipper has started a little slow but his defense in front of him are to blame too. Last nights game was crap with the Flames blowing a 4-0 lead with 3 gay goals off of Flames defensemen, terrible. Oh well the Flames have gotten off to worst starts before so we shouldn't be that frustrated.